Henry the Hedgehog Builds a Helpful
Habit
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the
Story:
Good habits grow
one small step at a time. They begin quietly and grow stronger each day. You do
not need to be fast or perfect to begin. You only need to start and keep going.
When you repeat what is good, it becomes part of you. Small choices made daily
shape who you become. Hard days do not ruin habits. Giving up does.
Faithful effort turns tiny actions into big change.
Henry the Hedgehog lived at the edge of
Willowwood Forest, tucked beneath a cozy oak tree with leaves that whispered in
the wind. Henry was kind, gentle, and thoughtful, but he struggled with one
thing. Starting.
Henry had many
good ideas. He wanted to keep his burrow neat. He wanted to practice his
reading. He wanted to help his neighbors more often. But whenever Henry thought
about doing all those things, he felt overwhelmed.
“There is so
much to do,” Henry sighed one morning, staring at a pile of scattered acorns,
books, and leaves. “I will start tomorrow.”
Tomorrow came
and went many times.
One bright New
Year morning, Henry visited his wise friend Oliver the Owl, who lived high in
the tallest tree.
“Owl Oliver,”
Henry said softly, “how do some animals get so good at doing things every day?”
Oliver smiled
and adjusted his spectacles. “They do not do everything, Henry. They do one
small thing, again and again.”
Henry tilted
his head. “Just one thing?”
“Yes,” Oliver
replied. “Habits are built quietly. Not loudly. Not all at once.”
That day, Henry
chose one tiny goal. Every morning after breakfast, he would put away just five
things in his burrow. No more. No less.
The first day
felt easy.
The second day
felt ordinary.
The third day,
Henry forgot.
When he
remembered later, he felt disappointed. But then he remembered Oliver’s words.
He picked up five things anyway.
The next
morning, Henry did it again.
Soon, something
strange happened. Putting things away did not feel hard anymore. It felt
normal. Henry noticed his burrow looked nicer. He felt calmer inside.
Encouraged,
Henry added another small habit. After lunch, he would read one page of his
book. Just one.
Some days, he
read more. Some days, just one page. But every day, he opened the book.
Weeks passed.
Henry began to feel different. Not bigger. Not faster. But steadier.
His friend
Bella the Bunny noticed first. “Henry, your burrow looks wonderful. And you
always seem so peaceful.”
Henry smiled.
“I think my habits are helping me.”
Then came a
tough week. Rain poured. The forest felt gloomy. Henry felt tired and grumpy.
One morning, he skipped his habit. The next morning, he wanted to skip again.
Henry paused.
“If I skip twice,” he whispered, “I may start a new habit I do not want.”
So he picked up
five things. Slowly. Carefully.
That night,
Henry realized something important. Habits were not about feeling like it. They
were about choosing who he wanted to be.
By the end of
the year, Henry had built many good habits. He was not perfect. But he was
consistent. And that made all the difference.
Henry looked at
his tidy burrow, his well-read books, and his happy heart. He smiled.
“One small
choice,” he said, “changed everything.”
Moral of the
story poem:
A habit starts
with something small,
A step so tiny it barely shows at all.
Repeat it daily, slow and true,
And soon that habit becomes part of you.
You do not need to rush or race,
Just show up daily in your place.
Small good choices done with care,
Build a life that shines bright and fair.
Discussion Questions:
1. What small habit did Henry choose to start, and why
was it easy for him to keep doing it?
2. How did Henry handle days when he forgot or did not
feel like continuing?
3. What is one small habit you could start today that
would help you grow?
My Good Habits Chart
Small Choices Every Day Help Me Grow
Child’s Name: ___________________________
Week of: _________________________________
My Habit This Week
The one good habit I am practicing:
☐ Making my bed
☐ Cleaning up my toys
☐ Using kind words
☐ Reading every day
☐ Brushing my teeth
☐ Being on time
☐ Helping others
☐ Other: ___________________________
When will I practice my habit
☐ Morning
☐ After school
☐ After dinner
☐ Before bedtime
Weekly Habit Chart
Color a box, add a sticker, or draw a smiley face each day you try your habit.
Day | I Tried My Habit Today |
Monday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Tuesday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Wednesday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Thursday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Friday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Saturday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Sunday | ☐ 😊 ⭐ 🎉 |
Important Reminder for Kids
Trying matters more than being perfect.
Missing one day is okay.
Trying the next day again is what builds a habit.
Parent or Teacher Encouragement
Something positive I noticed this week:
Words of encouragement:
Celebration
At the end of the week, I am proud of myself because:
Small reward or celebration:
☐ Extra story time
☐ Special hug
☐ High five
☐ Choice time
☐ Other: ___________________________
Identity Statement for Children
Read this out loud together:
“I am the kind of kid who tries every day.”
“I can build good habits.”
“I get better with practice.”
No comments:
Post a Comment